Blood Hollow

I love the Cork O'Connor series, and have discovered that listening to these books on audiobooks is a great way to enjoy the series. This one begins with the body of a young high school girl found on the ice in a cold January blizzard. It's not clear at first whether it was an accident, suicide or homicide, but Cork feels in his gut that this one is a murder most foul. There are too many unexplained circumstances and questions as to why this girl went out on her snowmobile on New Year's eve with a big storm coming. Cork is asked by the family to try to determine what happened to Charlotte. Even though he is no longer sheriff, his instincts and skills in investigation have not left him. While his investigation continues he discovers show more secret after secret, and shock after shock about Charlotte and her family and friends. This is where the story fell a little short for me because there were just too many shocking and coincidental secrets. But, nevertheless, I still really enjoyed the story. I am grateful that I discovered this series, and all of William Kent Krueger's books. He's one of my favourite authors and I won't rest until I've read all of his books. show less

Charlotte Kane, daughter of the wealthy Fletcher Kane, disappears on New Year’s Eve in the small town of Aurora, Minnesota. Everyone, including former sheriff Cork O'Connor, is involved in the search for her. Despite the fascinating and somewhat paranormal incident Cork has while on his snowmobile, her body isn't found until the spring thaw. She disappeared after a fight with ex-lover, Solemn Winter Moon, a young Ojibwe Indian. He becomes the only “person of interest” in the investigation and Cork, believing him innocent, agrees to help him.

There are so many things going on in this book. Cork’s wife, Jo, accepts Solemn's case, uncovering a few well-hidden secrets that point to other law-abiding citizens. Solemn claims to have show more talked with Jesus in the woods (Jesus is wearing Minnetonka moccasins), leading him to become much more serious and pragmatic. Cork's family is front and center in this book, including Rose, Jo's sister, and her relationship with the Catholic Church. I admire the way the author writes his female characters in this series. Cork is surrounded by women: his wife, his sister-in-law, and his two teenage daughters and Krueger shows a lot of sensitivity in relating their feelings and emotions.

There is a very complex plot dealing with several themes, including murder, miracles, and spirituality in both Catholicism and native American religion. Cork, part Ojibwe and part Catholic, questions what he really believes in. Again, the author explores these themes in a non-proselytizing way that links all the story lines. I've recently started this series and absolutely love it. I can't believe I've owned the books for so long and am just now reading them. I think you can enjoy this book out of order, but there's a lot of back story that makes it more enjoyable if you've read the books in order, starting with [Iron Lake]. For anyone wanting to experience what a fantastic author William Kent Krueger is, I also highly recommend his standalone novel, [Ordinary Grace]. show less

Summary: A murder is pinned on Solemn Winter Moon, but Cork thinks otherwise, confronting resistance and wounds from the past.

Fletcher Kane’s daughter Charlotte is missing after taking off on a snowmobile during a New Year’s Eve party. Aurora turns out to search but no trace. Cork persists as a blizzard approaches. Crossing a lake, he falls off his snowmobile and can’t find it. Then a wraith-like something guides him and he finds the snowmobile and makes it to shore.

Four months later, some hikers come across her body. Evidence at the scene, including a beer bottle and a wrench used to murder the girl, connects back to Solemn Winter Moon, nephew of Sam, whose hamburger place Cork and his daughters run since Sam’s tragic death. show more Chillingly, the murderer ate and drank while waiting for Charlotte to die. Sheriff Arne Soderberg, a political climber, is shaken to confront such a murder, but he is sure Moon has done it. But Moon is nowhere to be found. Cork finds him at Sam’s cabin hideaway and he and Jo persuade him to turn himself in. But when the sheriff ambushes him with the evidence, he bolts.

None of this looks good for Moon, who has been in and out of trouble since his youth. It turns out he fled to Henry Meloux, a sage who has guided Cork many times. Solemn returns from a vision quest as Cork goes to Henry and tells a strange story. He saw and talked to Jesus, dressed in north woods gear. Understandably, Cork has no idea what to think. But something has transformed Solemn. He is ready to face arrest and whatever follows.

But he is not the only one who faces a hard road. Solemn asks Jo to represent him. In turn, she needs a good investigator, and who better than Cork. But Cork faces challenges from his past. Fletcher Kane, Charlotte’s father is one. Fletcher’s father committed suicide when Cork’s father investigated sexual irregularities with one of his patients. And Charlotte’s school counselor intimates that Charlotte showed signs of sexual abuse by a family member. No love lost there. And then Arne Soderberg isn’t happy with the former sheriff investigating his case.

Solemn, who had broken up with Charlotte disavows the murder, or the sex that had preceded it. Slowly, evidence accumulates to point to someone else in this tight knit community, someone people would never think capable of murder. Cork must suspect people who are friends…or not, like someone wearing the badge.

Cork revisits two decisions in his life. When turned out of office after Sam Moon’s death, he made his peace with running Sam’s business with Jen and Anne. But the search for Charlotte’s murderer calls out all in which Cork excels as a lawman. And Solemn’s claims to have talked to Jesus and subsequent events challenge him to reconsider the faith he had turned from. Can he believe again?

In addition to Charlotte’s death, which has more twists than I can reveal here, Krueger develops the slowly healing relationship between Cork and Jo and the evolving relationship he has with two teenage daughters and his son. His connection with Henry Meloux is a high point in every story. And there is a subplot with Rose, pointing to the development her character. This makes me want to read further, not only for thrilling mysteries but also growing characters and evolving relationships. show less

Blood Hollow is the fourth in William Kent Krueger's series featuring Cork O'Connor. The premise seems straightforward: a rebellious wealthy girl rides off drunk on her snowmobile and disappears after a New Year's Eve party; her body is found in the spring thaw; her Native-American ex-boyfriend (a known hell raiser) is charged with killing her. Cork, our hero, thinks the young man is innocent, and sets out to find "whodunit."

With the short library loan term for [Blood Hollow] close to expiring, and dying to know how the mystery turned out, I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish this book. And when I was done, I found myself sitting, staring. [Blood Hollow] left me stunned. I had been concerned as Krueger delved yet more show more deeply into spirituality and mysticism, and entered the realm of visions and miracles. A Native American young man's claimed vision of / encounter with Jesus during a vision quest? Faith healing? It's so easy to trivialize faith writing on that level, if one is not careful. I needn't have worried. As Krueger better acquaints us with his diverse characters and their struggles, he deftly navigates the sea of question marks and the instances of good, bad, ugly, and beautiful, which populate the spiritual lives of all kinds of people, and leaves the reader free to draw his/her own conclusions. He left me with oh so much to think about and no easy answers on any front, except -- FINALLY! -- "whodunit." (And even that answer left the reader with many questions to ponder.)

Yes, this was, first and foremost, a mystery! The fact that Krueger dealt openly with spirituality didn't make the mystery any less complex or satisfying. Indeed, it was all a neat puzzle package as Cork pursued truth on a whole lot of levels. What he finds is that nothing and no one is exactly as they appear on the surface -- something he probably knew as a former law enforcement officer, but which was hammered home again and again in this thriller. As Cork unravels lie after lie, and the facades of several of Aurora's leading citizens crumble, the situation becomes yet more bewildering. There are twists and turns galore.

I never saw the end coming as it did.

And then there are the characters! Krueger doesn't do stereotypes. Each character, major or minor, is fleshed out and complex. They frequently do things that are surprising but which totally fit who they are, as we learn more about them.

All of this is set amidst the gorgeous scenery of northern Minnesota, which Krueger portrays with a deft touch -- not so much description as to bog down the flow of the story, but enough to appreciate where you are as you travel through this book.

I really loved this book. I am seriously thinking of buying copies of this whole series for my permanent library. show less

I had let too much time go by between reading the Cork O’Connor series which is a shame as they are brilliantly written and full of suspense. Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger is the 4th book in the series and it won a well-deserved Anthony Award in 2005. It totally pulled me in and held my attention throughout.

Blood Hollow is a chilling story of the murder of a beautiful teen, Charlotte Kane, who is found months after she disappeared on a drunken snowmobile ride on New Year’s Eve. Cork, the ex-sheriff and his wife, lawyer Jo, are working together to represent a young, brooding and troubled Indian, Solemn Winter Moon who has been accused of her death. Cork finds himself in conflict with the new, politically motivated sheriff as show more well as many other town folk who are ready to accept Solemn’s guilt.

Much of the story line in this book revolves around religion, in particular the Catholic Church as Solemn claims to have had a vision of Jesus, and this attracts religious zealots on both sides to the small town in Northern Minnesota. Cork fully realizes the mess that he’s expected to untangle but he is still quite taken aback at the unsavoury family drama that is revealed as the plot twists and turns on it’s way to a thrilling climax.

Hopefully I can get back on track with this series as the author’s excellent writing skills, his strong atmospheric settings and thrilling plots make for some great reading. show less

A rebel Indian who finds Jesus and performs miracles.
A doppelganger of the dead girl found during the spring thaw.
A sin-eater with a growing appetite.
Cork O’Connor, burger-flipper and former sheriff of Aurora, is on the case.

Jo and Cork have returned their family to Leave-it-to-Beaver unity and all the edge comes from the supporting cast this time. Cork continues to wrestle with his belief system and his unwavering need to protect the town, which I always find satisfying. I enjoy this series more with every installment. It’s a fantastic blend of noir and western and classic mystery. Krueger’s detailed descriptions - of the reservation land and weather (even the blizzards) - make this southern girl long to head north for the big show more woods. show less

Former sheriff Cork O'Connor is on a manhunt for a missing teen, Charlotte, who is presumed dead after having taken a snowmobile out late at a New Year's Eve party. Months later, her body is found and a troubled Ojibwe, Charlotte's former boyfriend, Solemn Winter Moon is accused of the crime; Cork doesn't believe the boy is guilty, and does some side investigating trying to clear his name.

This is the fourth in a long-running mystery series set in northern Minnesota with a great sense of place and interesting characters whose relationships grow and change as time rolls on. I enjoyed the twists and turns this story took, but occasionally felt like there was just a little too much dirt dug up during Cork's investigation to be quite show more believable - though they made for effective red herrings. While not my favorite of the series so far, I'm definitely looking forward to continuing. show less